Alexis Olans, Chief Sustainability Officer, Arcadis - Navigating Change with Alexis Olans

In this insightful episode, Alexis Haass, former Chief Sustainability Officer at Arcadis and a seasoned leader in sustainability, shares her journey and lessons learned about driving transformative change in large organizations.
Reflecting on her time at Adidas, Alexis highlights the importance of having strong allies. Building relationships with leaders who share your vision can drive significant change, such as adopting 100% recycled polyester. Allies not only provide support but also help push the agenda forward when progress stalls.
A critical aspect of Alexis's approach is translating vision into business language. She underscores the need to align sustainability initiatives with business objectives, crafting compelling stories that connect the larger mission with concrete outcomes. For example, Adidas’s success with a shoe made from recycled ocean plastics showcased how sustainability can resonate with both the business and consumers.
Alexis also stresses the importance of recalibrating your message depending on the audience and making others win. By spotlighting the contributions of others, Catalysts can build a supportive network and make change more sustainable as others take ownership of the process.
Her insights serve as a powerful reminder that while the journey of a Catalyst can be challenging, strategic vision, strong allies, effective storytelling, and a focus on collective success are key to driving lasting change.
Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.